DiFrancesco Plastic Surgery - Plastic Surgery in Decatur, GA

DiFrancesco Plastic Surgery
150 E. Ponce de Leon Ave.
Suite 190
Decatur, GA 30030

404 377-3474

Procedures

Plastic surgery encompasses both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery.

Cosmetic or Aesthetic surgery is performed to reshape normal structures of the body in order to improve the patient's appearance and self-esteem. Cosmetic surgery is usually not covered by health insurance because it is elective.

Reconstructive surgery is performed on abnormal structures of the body, caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease. It is generally performed to improve functions, but may also be done to approximate a normal appearance. Reconstructive surgery is generally covered by most health insurance policies, although coverage for specific procedures and levels of coverage may vary greatly.

There are a number of "gray areas" in coverage for plastic surgery that sometimes require special consideration by an insurance carrier. These areas usually involve surgical operations, which may be reconstructive or cosmetic, depending on each patient's situation. For example, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) - a procedure normally performed to achieve cosmetic improvement - may be covered if the eyelids are drooping severely and obscuring a patient''s vision.

Please view the drop-down list to the right to read more about the plastic surgery procedures performed by Dr. DiFrancesco.
Body Contouring

In addition to the procedures from the drop-down list, Dr. DiFrancesco also specializes in extensive body contouring procedures such as:

ABDOMINOPLASTY, typically performed for cosmetic purposes, involves the removal of excess skin and fat from the pubis to the umbilicus or above, and may include fascial plication of the rectus muscle diastasis and a neournbilicoplasty.

PANNICULECTOMY involves the removal of hanging excess skin/fat in a transverse or vertical wedge but does not include muscle placation, neoumbilicoplasty or flap elevation. A cosmetic abdominoplasty is sometimes performed at the time of a functional panniculectomy or delayed pending completion of weight reduction.

BELT LIPECTOMY is a circumferential procedure which combines the elements of an abdominoplasty or panniculectomy with removal of excess skin/fat from the lateral thighs and buttock. The procedure involves removing a "belt" of tissue from around the circumference of the lower trunk which eliminates lower back rolls, and provides some elevation of the outer thighs, buttocks, and mons pubis. Similarly, a circumferential lipectomy describes an abdominoplasty or panniculectomy combined with flank and back lifts.

TORSOPLASTY is a series of operative procedures, usually done together to improve the contour of the torso, usually female (though not exclusively). This series would include abdominoplasty with liposuction of the hips/flanks and breast augmentation and/or breast lift/reduction. In men, this could include reduction of gynecomastia by suction assisted lipectomy/ultrasound assisted lipectomy or excision.

CIRCUMFERENTIAL LIPECTOMY combines an abdominoplasty with a "back lift", both procedures being performed together sequentially and including suction assisted lipectomy, where necessary.

LOWER BODY LIFT is a procedure that treats the lower trunk and thighs as a unit by eliminating a circumferential wedge of tissue that is generally, but not always, more inferiorly positioned laterally and posteriorly than a belt lipectomy.